ISACA launches Digital Trust Ecosystem Framework

ISACA has launched what it says is a global first framework to help organisations achieve digital trustworthiness and reap the significant benefits that come with high levels of trust. The new Digital Trust Ecosystem Framework (DTEF) has been four years in development and incorporates input from experts across the globe.

Until now there is no single body of knowledge that thoroughly addresses the scenarios, risk and controls required to operate in a digitally trusted environment.

Upcoming ISACA research indicates more than half of organisations (55%) believe it is extremely or very important for an organisation to have a digital trust framework. The DTEF is designed to help organisations focus on trust holistically by leveraging technology securely, increasing collaboration, reducing reaction times to unforeseen events, focusing on brand management and improving financial performance through enhanced trust.

Jo Stewart-Rattray, ISACA’s Oceania Ambassador, said the new framework is progressive and will provide organisations of all sizes with a roadmap to achieving optimal trust.

“We know the importance of digital trust ranks high among business leaders in Australia,” he said. “Over two years of gruelling cyber attacks in this region has taken its toll and the importance of digital trust and digital reputation has been escalated significantly in the eyes of company leaders.

“Most organisations in Australia have the intention to be trustworthy, but sometimes there is a disconnect between intent and action, largely driven by uncertainty around how to achieve trust across all areas of the business. ISACA’s new DTEF outlines the practices and steps to achieve trust and the enormous benefits that come with this, including customer loyalty, investor confidence and increased innovation.”

The Digital Trust Ecosystem Framework (DTEF) and portfolio of resources helps organisations understand the practices they can undertake to impact their trustworthiness and reputation by addressing the key components of digital trust: integrity, security, privacy, resilience, quality, reliability and confidence.

According to ISACA’s upcoming State of Digital Trust research, the benefits of high levels of digital trust include enhancing positive reputation (67%), having more reliable data for decision-making (57%) and experiencing fewer privacy breaches and fewer cybersecurity incidents (56% each). Digital trust, defined as confidence in the integrity of the relationships, interactions and transactions within an associated digital ecosystem, can also strengthen an organisation’s bottom line.

“High levels of digital trust ultimately improve financial performance by lowering the risk of impact of data and cyber breaches,” said Shannon Donahue, ISACA Chief Content and Publishing Officer. “Organisations can also see greater gains from responsible digital investments, and the Digital Trust Ecosystem Framework helps with both of these.”

Following an earlier beta release in 2022 that enabled ISACA to include expert input from around the globe into the final version, the newly released Digital Trust Ecosystem Framework focuses on the elements of people, process, technology and organisation, drilling down into the domains of culture, human factors, emergence, enabling and support, direct and monitor, and architecture to provide organisations with trust factors, practices, activities and outcomes as part of their digital trust journey. The framework is designed to be compatible with many existing frameworks and best practices, including COBIT, ITIL, GDPR and numerous ISO and NIST standards.

Later in the year, ISACA will also be releasing the Digital Trust Ecosystem Framework Foundation Course and Digital Trust Ecosystem Framework Foundation Certificate.

To access the Digital Trust Ecosystem Framework and resources, visit https://www.isaca.org/digital-trust.

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